Stepparents’ Rights

The process of ending a marriage can certainly be complicated on an emotional level, but it can also be complex financially. Unfortunately, ill-informed financial decisions during divorce can have negative long-term implications. Here are a couple of tips for making...

When an Arizona parent who has a child gets remarried, the stepparent may not know whether or not they can legally consent or refuse to consent for a stepchild's medical care. In order for a minor child to have a medical procedure, a parent or guardian must give...

For Arizona parents who have ended their marriage, some conflict may remain. A number of issues may arise after the divorce regarding custody and visitation. While any major changes to custody agreements, such as one parent relocating out of state with the child,...

The legal adoption of a stepchild confers the rights and responsibilities of a biological parent on to the stepparent. When a family in Arizona chooses to adopt a stepchild, a desire to create equality among siblings often motivates the choice. A stepparent might also...

Many stepparents in Arizona have questions about what their legal rights are regarding their stepchildren. The answer to that question largely depends on how involved the child's biological parent is. Generally, however, stepparents do not have legal rights over their...

A stepparent in Arizona who would like to adopt their stepchild must obtain consent from both of the child's birth parents. This means that the stepparent's spouse and the stepchild's other birth parent must agree to the adoption. If consent from the other birth...

In Arizona, it can be difficult for a stepparent to gain custody rights upon a marriage dissolution. Many stepparents develop strong bonds with their partner's children, becoming the child's psychological parent even if the ties are not based upon shared genetics....

After parents get divorced, they often worry about the impact it will have on their children. Divorce affects each child in a different way, but many children may feel angry, sad, confused and even resentful. These feelings are common in children after a divorce. In...